The Appalachians are a 205,000 square mile region that follows the spine of the Appalachian Mountains that extend from southern New York to northern Mississippi. It is home to more than 25 million people. Being rich in natural resources, the region contains some of the richest mineral deposits in America (Daugneaux 1981). The coal, timber, oil, gas, and water contained in the Appalachian Mountains are resources that have historically influenced the economic characteristics of the region. The region's economy is heavily dependent on mining, forestry, agriculture, chemical industries and heavy industry, among which coal mining appears to be the largest financial contributor to the economy. Although half of U.S. electricity comes from coal power, many Americans now have little appreciation for the land-destroying mining practice called mountaintop mining, used to extract coal in the Southern Appalachians. The radical process of mining literally blasts mountaintops with thousands of pounds of explosives to reach thin seams of coal. They then dump millions of tons of rubble and toxic waste into the streams and valleys beneath the mining sites. Mining poisons drinking water, destroys beautiful forests and natural habitats, increases the risk of flooding, and wipes out entire communities. There are four distinct groups of people involved in the mountaintop removal process: coal companies, Appalachia, environmental groups, and the federal court. To fully understand how natural resources have been understood, used and allocated, it is important to recognize this diversity. In this article I will identify the resource management approach of these four groups in this case mountaintop removal mining versus...... middle of the paper ...... your question, what is the use of a profession that destroys your home and body? While environmental groups place the highest priority on protecting the people and environment of the Appalachian region, mining companies focus on acting cheaply and not responsibly. And the government keeps its head in the sand when it comes to this issue because it seeks the benefits of stable jobs and tax revenue from coal mining instead of trying to ensure clean water for Appalachia. Recognize that conflicts are a prerequisite for sustainable management that is participatory and equitable. Conflict resolution requires the cooperation of all groups involved. Through the cooperation of all parties, mountaintop coal mining can be modified so that better social, environmental and economic objectives can be achieved and the interests of all stakeholders are adequately taken into account.